Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal said that Pakistan must remain fully prepared for all possible scenarios as India was an “unreliable adversary”.

“The Ministry of Health and its subordinate institutions will stay on high alert,” the federal minister said, directing the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) CEO to ensure the uninterrupted supply of vaccines and life-saving medicines.

According to a statement issued by the health ministry, Kamal also stressed to ensure alternatives arrangements for medicines currently imported from India. Furthermore, he instructed the National Institute of Health (NIH) to immediately enhance its capacity for local vaccine production.

He emphasised that federal hospitals must continue daily operations smoothly and remain fully functional in emergencies without any disruption, urging provincial governments to allocate additional hospital beds and ensure adequate stockpiles of blood and essential medicines in anticipation of any crisis.

Special instructions were issued to Polyclinic Hospital to make specific arrangements for the treatment of burn victims in case of emergency. The health minister added that the medical needs of the armed forces should be met on a priority basis.